God's Word for Me Today
Friday, December 7, 2001
Unwrapping a Christ-Centered Christmas!
A note about online study
Introduction to God's Word for Me Today
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, I never cease to be amazed at the simple message of today’s reading—that you love us so much that You gave Your only Son, Jesus, and that as I believe in Him that I will not perish, but have eternal life. Thank You for Your desire to bring salvation rather than condemnation to the world. Thank You for Your love and faithfulness to us, even though we have demonstrated nothing but rebellion from the time of Adam and Eve forward. God, thank You for sending Jesus to take away the sin of the world and for giving us Your Holy Spirit that we may walk in Your light! Empower me this day by the Spirit to live fully and unreservedly in Your light. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
God's Word for Me Today: John 3:16-21
16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it. 18 "There is no judgment awaiting those who trust him. But those who do not trust him have already been judged for not believing in the only Son of God. 19 Their judgment is based on this fact: The light from heaven came into the world, but they loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. 20 They hate the light because they want to sin in the darkness. They stay away from the light for fear their sins will be exposed and they will be punished. 21 But those who do what is right come to the light gladly, so everyone can see that they are doing what God wants."
Questions for Reflection
What is your favorite verse or passage of Scripture?
If you were God, would you have given up on humanity? If not, how would you have brought salvation to the world?
What is the best way to show the world that we have been saved?
Questions for Exploration
How does God demonstrate His love for the world? (3:16-17)
What is the consequence for those who trust in Jesus and those who do not? (3:17-21)
How is the image of light used in the passage? (3:19-21)
Questions for Understanding
What is the main point of this text?
Why do some want to be in the light and some in the dark according to this reading?
Questions for Application
What is the practical application of John 3:16 in your everyday life?
List three deeds that one who is living in the light carries out. Put them into action today!
Salvation, Light and Darkness!
John 3:16 is arguably the most famous verse in the Bible. It sums up God’s great love for us and His plan for salvation in one verse. But John 3:17 continues the theme of God’s desire to grant us salvation. Jesus didn’t come into the world to condemn the world, as so many people think. So often people inside the church and outside of it paint God as a cosmic spoil sport, who can’t wait to “squash” us “little bugs” when we don’t live up to His eternal and impossible standards. God sent Jesus so that the WORLD could be saved through Him. Jesus wanted everyone to turn to Him and He still wants everyone to turn to Him. It is not His will, nor the will of His Father in heaven that even one of these little ones should perish. God doesn’t have to prove that He is loving, that he’s caring. He already has in His Son, Jesus. As the Apostle Paul reminds us in Jesus we see all the fullness of the Godhead. Just as Jesus lived a self-giving life devoted to preaching the truth, restoring the sick and casting out evil, so is God of the very same nature.
If that’s the case, then why is it that the world isn’t full of loving, caring Christians? Why is it that the world isn’t filled with light? The answer comes in John 3:18-21
"There is no judgment awaiting those who trust him. But those who do not trust him have already been judged for not believing in the only Son of God. Their judgment is based on this fact: The light from heaven came into the world, but they loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. They hate the light because they want to sin in the darkness. They stay away from the light for fear their sins will be exposed and they will be punished. But those who do what is right come to the light gladly, so everyone can see that they are doing what God wants." Living in the light is a choice. Salvation is a gift, but the gift must be received. The light is available to shine in us, but we must want to come into it and live in it. The choice seems simple. The way we choose makes an eternal difference!
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